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Easy Thanksgiving Sides for Busy Moms
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items Easy Thanksgiving Sides for Busy Moms. Real talk: I work full time and I'm a boy mom, so I am NOT spending six hours making sides from scratch the night before Thanksgiving. These are my go-to shortcut sides and easy desserts that taste like I tried ...
Sections
5
New Section
Semi-Homemade Shortcuts
Bake & Serve
Keep It Warm
Dessert Without the Drama
New Section
Stove Top is my Thanksgiving cheat code. I doctor it up with sauteed celery and onion and literally no one knows it came from a box. My boys devour it every year.
Stuffing Mix
Semi-Homemade Shortcuts
Libby's is the only canned pumpkin I trust. I use it for pie, but also stir it into oatmeal for the boys. Make sure you grab the pure puree, NOT the pie filling — they're right next to each other and I've messed this up before!
Canned Pumpkin
Keebler shortbread crusts are my secret weapon. No rolling, no chilling, no stress. I just pour in the filling and it tastes homemade. The boys think I'm a pie genius.
Pie Crusts
I put pumpkin pie spice in EVERYTHING in November — pie, whipped cream, even the boys' oatmeal. One jar lasts the whole season and makes the house smell amazing.
Pumpkin Pie Spice
French's crispy onions are non-negotiable for green bean casserole. I buy the big container because my boys eat them straight as a snack. Don't judge.
Crispy Onions
Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce is the only one my family will eat. I slice it and fan it out on a plate — looks fancy, zero effort. The can shape is iconic, don't fight it.
Canned Cranberry Sauce
Jiffy is my ride-or-die here. I bake it the night before in my cast iron skillet, then cube it up for stuffing on Thanksgiving morning. The boys eat half of it plain before it even becomes stuffing, so I always make two boxes. Learned that the hard w...
Cornbread Mixes
I used to just spoon the juices over the turkey and hope for the best. This little guy sucks up all the good stuff from the bottom of the pan and my turkey actually stays juicy now. The boys call it the turkey straw and fight over who gets to squeeze...
Turkey Baster
Bake & Serve
Disposable roasting pans are a busy mom's best friend. No scrubbing a greasy pan at midnight — just toss it. I use these for the turkey and all my casseroles.
Disposable Foil Pans
A good baking dish set is worth the investment. I use mine for mac and cheese, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole — everything. They go from oven to table and look nice.
Baking Dishes
A deep-dish pie plate is essential. Mine goes from freezer to oven, and the fluted edge makes even my rustic pies look pretty. Get one with a lid for easy transport.
Pie Dish
I buy frozen dinner rolls and bake them fresh — they taste homemade but I didn't have to knead anything. Brush with butter and sprinkle sea salt. The boys fight over them.
Dinner Rolls
Idahoan instant mashed potatoes are a lifesaver when I don't have time to peel. I add extra butter and a splash of milk — no one can tell they're instant. The boys actually prefer them!
Potato Flakes
Deviled eggs are the first thing to disappear at every family gathering, so I finally got a proper tray. No more eggs sliding around on a regular plate! The boys love helping me pipe the filling in, which means half the yolks never actually make it o...
Deviled Egg Tray
Keep It Warm
An electric warming tray is a game-changer when oven space is tight. I set it up on the sideboard and keep mashed potatoes and rolls warm for hours. No more cold sides!
Electric Warming Trays
A chafing dish set makes your buffet look so professional. I use it for keeping the green bean casserole warm. The fuel cans last for hours — worth every penny.
Chafing Dish Buffet Set
A gravy boat with a saucer catches drips and looks classy. I warm mine with hot water before pouring in the gravy — keeps it hot longer. No one wants cold gravy!
Gravy Boat
An insulated casserole carrier keeps dishes hot during transport. I use mine when we do Thanksgiving at my sister's — no more lukewarm green bean casserole!
Casserole Carriers
This little pitcher is my gravy insurance policy. Pour the turkey drippings in, the fat floats to the top, and you pour silky gravy out the bottom without all the grease. My mother-in-law asked what I did different this year - that's the compliment, ...
Fat Separator
The best few dollars I've ever spent on sanity. Line the crockpot, dump in the mashed potatoes or green beans, and when dinner's over you just toss the bag. No scrubbing baked-on cheese at 10pm while the kids are melting down around you.
Slow Cooker Liner
Dessert Without the Drama
Libby's pumpkin pie filling (not the puree!) has the spices already mixed in. Just add eggs and evaporated milk. I make two pies every year — one never makes it to the table.
Pumpkin Pie Filling
A good pie server with a sharp edge cuts clean slices. Mine has a serrated edge that cuts through crust like butter. No more mangled pie slices!
Cake Server
A whipped cream dispenser makes fresh whipped cream in seconds. Way better than the can, and the boys love watching it. I add a little vanilla and powdered sugar.
Whipped Cream Dispenser
Pie weights are a must if you're blind-baking a crust. They keep the bottom from puffing up. I use them with parchment paper — perfect crust every time, no soggy bottom.
Pie Weights
A silicone pastry brush is perfect for egg wash on pie crusts. It doesn't shed bristles like the old ones, and it's dishwasher safe. I use mine for butter on dinner rolls too.
Silicone Basting Brush